Current inventory apparatus



J. D. SMITH CURRENT INVENTORY APPARATUS Feb. 9, 1932. 1,844,266

Filed Aug. 31, 1929 MESH bin :27. 15') it) Patented Feb. 9, 1932 v UNITED STATES vFFica JOHN B. SMITH, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA CURRENT INVENT RY APPARATUS Application filed August 31, 1929. Serial No. 389,727.

' 5 provide means for displaying current 'inventories.

Another object is to divide the means into units so that the apparatus may be expanded indefinitely. 7

Another object is to provide a mechanical unit for holding a roll of record tape simple in construction and operation, compact in dimensions, and adapted to be associated with similar units to form an expansive, visible inventory record, simple in operation and easily kept up to date as the inventory stock moves.

Other objects and advantages will appear as this description progresses.

This invention isnot to be confused with permanent records, and the means for preserving the same. In the present method the old record is discarded when displaced by the new record.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in the form considered to be the best. But I do not wish to be understood as confining itto this form because it may be embodied in other forms. It is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the description it is desired to cover the invention in whatever form it may be embodied.

.In the accompanying one sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a fragmentary portion of an inventory rack or cabinet having a multiplicity of record units therein illustrated diagrammatically, with one unit indicating mechanical details. c

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the record units.

Figure 3 is a side view of the same in vertical section taken on'the line III-III Fig- 3 ure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail of the front plate of the record holding case.

Figure 5 is a plan view from above of the record holding case.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings comprises: A suitable rack or cabinet holder having the back 1, the top 2, thesides 3,- and the shelves4 and 5 fragmentarily illustrated in Figure 1. This cabinet may be of any height or .width to contain the necessarylnumber of shelves.

The record units 66 comprise a rectangular enclosing case,'preterably of sheet metal,

having the sides 77, the top 8, the bottom 9 and the back 10.

The top plate extends'forward beyond'the sides 77 and has the notches 11611 to form the undercut head 12. The bottom plate 9 extends forward similarly, and is provided with a slot at the point 13 in vertical align,- ment with the notches '11-11 between the sides 7-7.

The front plate'14 consists of'a narrow strip of sheet metal the proper width to fit between the front edges of the sides 7-7. Its lower end 15'is reduced in width to pass through the slot 13 and extend beneath the bottom 9 where it .is turned inward and provided with the serrations 16, see Figures 3 and 4. The upper end is provided with a buttonhole 17 wideenough to pass the head 12 and having the reduced portion 18 adapted to drop downward into the slots ,11 11, to lock the front plate 14 into the front of the case 6.

The upperportion of the plate 14 is provided with the lower and lateral lugs Hand 20 cut and curled inward from the body of the plate to form brackets for holding the recard card 21. Beneath these cards three horizontal sloots 22,23, 24 are punched through the body of the plate 14. I

- Before the end 15 of the plate 14 is in-' serted through the slot 13 and locked by the head and slot 12 and 18 respectively,the end of the tape roll 25 is passed outward through the slot 22, backward through the slot 23, and

again outward through the slot 24. The exposed length of the tape 26 is held against the plate 14, while the ends 15 and 27 of the F plate and the tape are inserted downward through the slot 13 before the upper end is locked by means of the locks 17 and 18 engaging the head 12, as described. Thus assembled the roll ofrtape 25 is closed within the case and it is free to unwind when the end 27 is pulled downward.

The exposed portion 26 of the tape lying against the plate 14 is adapted to receive an inventory record manually written thereon. When a past record is to be discarded, the end of the tape 27 is pulled downward the desired distance, then pushedbackwards against the serration 16 of the plate Id, and torn off and discarded.

The method of using this inventory ap paratus is substantially as follows:

Assuming that the inventory is being kept in the stock room of a garment-factory for 1 recording the number of garments of various best accomplished by filling each" alternate unit case 6, with a different colorroll of tape 25; For instance, the first unit can have a blue tape, the next unit, a butt tape, followed by blue and buff throughout the series.

The various styles and sizes of garments may run into hundreds requiring an apparatus many feet in heightand width, which can be very conveniently placed in passageways or on dead walls where it is exposed before the superintendent orother officer of the plant concerned with the invoice. The style numbers and sizes of the garments are written on the cards 21 on the face of the units.

The stock onhand is written in pencil on the first'blue tape, where it emerges from the case. As orders are received for this style and size, they are written on the succeeding buff tape. These orders may arrive at different periods during the day, and are enteredin columns on the buffstrip to be added together and the product substracted from the quantity on hand represented on the blue strip.

The blue strip is then, drawn down and torn off at the edge 16, and the sum of the subtraction again entered on the blue strip near the point where it emerges from the case. The buff strip is also drawn down and torn. off on the line 16 leaving a blank strip strips are then discarded. "The current state of the stock on hand is indicated on the faces of the'various tapes in the apparatus.

By the use of this apparatus stock inventoryis always easily accessible in large legible figures, only the current state of the inventory being indicated. This avoids the necessity of consulting books, when the hands may be sm-udg the loss of such books, or misplacing of the same, and the danger of misleading entries in mass formation, together with the necessity of leaving such books and records in thecareofasingle individual responsible for entries therein in legible fashion andwith the proper degree of neatness;

By the use of differently colored pencils various conditions of the stock may be indicated on this record. For instance, figures in red indicate orders received and figures in black indicate stock on hand. Using two colors avoids confusion and probable error, acting as a double check.

'As the; roll of tape 25 becomes exhausted, the front plate 14 is elevated to detach it from the head 12 at the top to permit it to be removed from the case for an insertion of a new roll 25 which will be threaded through the plate 14 in the manner described. The various slots, 22,. 23,. 24 that the tape is threaded through hold the tape B taut while it is being; withdrawn from the bottom through the slot 13- for' the. purpose of tearing it off, insuring that the exposed surface 2.6-of thetapewillbe taut and lieflat against the plate 14: for the reception of writing thereon.

The sheet metal case described isthe preferred way for controlling the tape and it lends itself to easy assembly within any form of enclosing cabinet having shelves therein, or it may be installed in table drawers 0 otherwise assembled.

Other and cheaper forms of this apparatus will present themselves to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to" secure by Leters Patent 1. An apparatus for displaying current inventories, comprising a casingopen at the front, locking means at the-top and bottomof said casing adjacent the open front, adetachable plate engaging said locking means at the top.- and bottom and having interspacedv slots therein, a roll of tape mounted in said casing, the end of said tape passing throughsaid slots to be displayed on the front of said detachable plate. r

' 2. An apparatus for displaying current ventories, comprising a casing open at the front and havinga slot at the bottom ofithe casing adjacent the open front, an overhanging lug at the top of said casing adjacent the open front, a detachable. plate. having its lower end passing through the slot at the bottom of said casing, and'having an opening in its upper end engaging said overhanging lug in the top of the casing, and having interspaced slots adjacent the center of the plate; and a roll of tape mounted in said casing and having its end passing through the interspaced slots in said plate.

3'. An apparatus for displaying current inventories comprising a casing open at the front and having a slot at the bottom of the casing adjacent the open front; an overhanging lug at the top of said casing adja cent the open front; a detachable plate having its lower end reduced in width to pass through the slot in the bottom of the casin and having an opening in its upper en engaging said overhanging 111g, and having interspaced slots between the ends of the plate; and a roll of tape mounted in said casing, the end of said tape being threaded through the interspaced slots in said plate and passed through the slot in the lower end of said casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of July, A. D. 1929. J OHN D. SMITH. 

